(Credit: Glenn Greenwald)
Bellingcat presents itself as an independent “fact-checking” organization. But there’s a lot more to this group than meets the eye. Some believe that Bellingcat is just another left-wing activist group masquerading as a “fact-checker.” Bellingcat’s reporting and political narratives reinforce those beliefs. Recently, Bellingcat came under intense scrutiny when they shared a manipulated image of a Hispanic shooter, casting him as a right-wing extremist and a so-called “white nationalist.” This incident wasn’t just a slip-up but a glimpse into their broader strategy of manipulation and propaganda.
Elon Musk actually called out Bellingcat recently over that ridiculously fake-looking propaganda picture.
Elon on the media’s “Texas murderer is a white supremacist” narrative:
Musk: Ascribing it to white supremacy was bullsh*t. The information came from an obscure Russian website and was somehow magically found by Bellingcat, a company that does psyops.
CNBC’s David Faber: And… pic.twitter.com/YL283zvqea
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) May 17, 2023
Elon isn’t the only one calling out Bellingcat. In a thought-provoking exposé, Glenn Greenwald — an award-winning independent journalist known for his critical views on media — examined the financial ties Bellingcat shares with various entities. Greenwald’s research shows a web of funding from organizations such as the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), a U.S.-based non-profit that supposedly spreads “democracy” in foreign countries. While NED claims its mission is to strengthen democratic institutions around the world through non-governmental efforts, some critics argue that its involvement with Bellingcat raises questions about both groups objectivity and goals. Clearly, the government has a vested interest in what Belligcat has to say.
Critics of Bellingcat also believe that this funding relationship has severe implications for journalistic integrity, which is Glenn’s area of expertise. He examines what’s really going on with Bellingcat in this informative and compelling exposé that explores their possible funding ties to the US government.
We compiled all of the evidence showing who funds @Bellingcat, what the stated agenda of their government and private-sector funders are, and what those funders get in return.
Find out what the National Endowment for Democracy is. Decide for yourself.https://t.co/8WIxP90E5d
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) May 20, 2023
Watch the show here: